2013 summer camps offer a variety of experiences

KALAMAZOO—Writing a mystery or playing their favorite sport or instrument are all options for young people this summer at numerous camps offered on the campus of Western Michigan University.

Registration is under way for many of the camps, and space is limited for most. The following is a partial list of camp offerings.

Summer 2013 camps at WMU

Various dates throughout June, July and August—Bronco athletics sports camps for high-school-age and younger students interested in soccer, volleyball, football, and other sports. More information:wmubroncos.com//evt/Event.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4600

Various dates in June and July—ATYP Summer Programs for students entering grades six through nine who have qualified for the Academically Talented Youth Program, 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. Sessions include Japanese language and culture, poetry workshop, music, writing a college admissions essay, pinhole photography, Face Jugs, Web design, KLORK and chess. Fee: $100 per camp. Registration deadline is June 3. Contact: (269) 387-3230 or atyp-info@wmich.edu. More information:wmich.edu/atyp.

June 3 through Aug. 30—Campus Kids, school-aged children who have completed kindergarten to age 9, 13 themed weeks, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, Children's Place Learning Center. Fees: $40 registration and $188 per week per child or hourly rates for WMU students, staff and community that range from $5.16 to $6.70. Contact: (269) 387-2277. More information:wmich.edu/childcare/campuskids.

June 16-27—MI GEAR UP Program for 8th grade students at one of the following eligible middle schools: Eau Claire, Fairplain (Benton Harbor), Fennville, Hartford, Hillside (Kalamazoo) or Linden Grove (Kalamazoo). Students will have the opportunity to apply to the Summer Engineering Academy or the Summer Aviation Academy running June 16-20; and the Summer Health Academy or the Summer Business Academy running June 23-27; where students will participate in hands-on activities, workshops and tours in relation to those career fields. Students stay at a WMU residence hall in the center of campus for four nights, participate in college preparation workshops and fun night activities. Students interested must submit an application, and selections are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Fee: free. Contact: (269) 387-3339 or tania.echavarria@wmich.edu.

June 17-28—Third Coast Writing Project Camp for Young Writers, ages eight to 14, 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, Brown Hall. Two themed writing camp experiences: "Mini Mystery" for ages eight to 10 and "Fiction-y Non-Fiction" for ages 11-14. Applications are due by Friday, May 24. Tuition: $150 and includes computer fees, T-shirt and writing supplies. Contact: (269) 387-2572 or zieglerm@kalamazoo.k12.mi.us. More information:thirdcoastwp.wikispaces.com/Camp+for+Young+Writers.

June 24-Aug. 1—McGinnis Reading Center andClinic, weekly summer reading and writing camps for students in grades kindergarten through six, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 4511 Sangren Hall. Certified teachers provide reading and writing instruction and engagement for all content areas including math, science and social studies with different concenpts covered each week. Fee: $125 per week, plus a one-time $25 registraiton fee. Students are responsible for their own lunch. Space is limited. Priority registration for WMU faculty, staff and students runs through Friday, April 12. Contact: Eriz Hughey at (269) 387-3470. More information:www.wmich.edu/specialed/clinic.

June 24 through Aug 2—Upward Bound Program, an academic college preparatory program for first generation or low-income Kalamazoo public high school students, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and sponsored locally by WMU. Upward Bound is designed to strengthen the academic skills of eligible high school students and prepare them to enter college and graduate with baccalaureate degrees. Students in the program have met one or two criteria for admission: they have come from families in which neither parent has completed a four-year college degree, or are from low-income backgrounds.

Participants take classes in math, English, science, language and computer science to strengthen their skills to excel academically and to ensure their post secondary enrollment and completion. They are also exposed to culturally enriched programs such as plays and museum tours. Students who successfully complete the summer component are eligible to participant in a week-long trip to explore college campuses outside the state of Michigan. Fee: free. Contact: Walter Malone at walter.malone@wmich.edu or (269) 387-2875. More information:wmich.edu/multicultural/upwardbound.

July 7-20—Seminar, high school summer music camp offered to students in grades nine through 12, including 2013 graduates, in six areas of study: brass, woodwind, percussion, string, vocal/choral and keyboard. Held in residence hall facilities on the WMU campus. Tuition: $1,195 for residents who live on campus, $995 for students who live off campus. Competitive scholarships are available. Contact: (269) 387-4681 or kevin.west@wmich.edu. More information:wmich.edu/music-camp/index.html.

July 22-26, July 29 through Aug. 23 and Aug. 5-9—Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Summer Camp provides three sessions 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for participants in grades six through nine (July 22-26), age 16 and older (July 29-Aug. 2), or for adults who wish to earn graduate or CEU credits (Aug. 5-9) to be trained in excavation and record keeping techniques at historic Fort St. Joseph in Niles, Mich. Applications are due by June 1 or until all positions are filled. Fee: $150. Contact: (269) 387-3981, cbainbridge@nilesmi.org or michael.nassaney@wmich.edu. More information:wmich.edu/fortstjoseph.